US20110262083A1 - Optical connector module - Google Patents
Optical connector module Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US20110262083A1 US20110262083A1 US13/087,837 US201113087837A US2011262083A1 US 20110262083 A1 US20110262083 A1 US 20110262083A1 US 201113087837 A US201113087837 A US 201113087837A US 2011262083 A1 US2011262083 A1 US 2011262083A1
- Authority
- US
- United States
- Prior art keywords
- positioning device
- lens
- optical fiber
- connector module
- receiving portion
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Granted
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Classifications
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- G—PHYSICS
- G02—OPTICS
- G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
- G02B6/00—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings
- G02B6/24—Coupling light guides
- G02B6/42—Coupling light guides with opto-electronic elements
- G02B6/4201—Packages, e.g. shape, construction, internal or external details
- G02B6/4204—Packages, e.g. shape, construction, internal or external details the coupling comprising intermediate optical elements, e.g. lenses, holograms
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G02—OPTICS
- G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
- G02B6/00—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings
- G02B6/24—Coupling light guides
- G02B6/36—Mechanical coupling means
- G02B6/38—Mechanical coupling means having fibre to fibre mating means
- G02B6/3807—Dismountable connectors, i.e. comprising plugs
- G02B6/3833—Details of mounting fibres in ferrules; Assembly methods; Manufacture
- G02B6/3834—Means for centering or aligning the light guide within the ferrule
- G02B6/3835—Means for centering or aligning the light guide within the ferrule using discs, bushings or the like
- G02B6/3837—Means for centering or aligning the light guide within the ferrule using discs, bushings or the like forwarding or threading methods of light guides into apertures of ferrule centering means
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G02—OPTICS
- G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
- G02B6/00—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings
- G02B6/24—Coupling light guides
- G02B6/36—Mechanical coupling means
- G02B6/38—Mechanical coupling means having fibre to fibre mating means
- G02B6/3807—Dismountable connectors, i.e. comprising plugs
- G02B6/3833—Details of mounting fibres in ferrules; Assembly methods; Manufacture
- G02B6/3853—Lens inside the ferrule
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G02—OPTICS
- G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
- G02B6/00—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings
- G02B6/24—Coupling light guides
- G02B6/42—Coupling light guides with opto-electronic elements
- G02B6/4201—Packages, e.g. shape, construction, internal or external details
- G02B6/4219—Mechanical fixtures for holding or positioning the elements relative to each other in the couplings; Alignment methods for the elements, e.g. measuring or observing methods especially used therefor
- G02B6/4236—Fixing or mounting methods of the aligned elements
- G02B6/4239—Adhesive bonding; Encapsulation with polymer material
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G02—OPTICS
- G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
- G02B6/00—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings
- G02B6/24—Coupling light guides
- G02B6/26—Optical coupling means
- G02B6/32—Optical coupling means having lens focusing means positioned between opposed fibre ends
- G02B6/322—Optical coupling means having lens focusing means positioned between opposed fibre ends and having centering means being part of the lens for the self-positioning of the lightguide at the focal point, e.g. holes, wells, indents, nibs
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G02—OPTICS
- G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
- G02B6/00—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings
- G02B6/24—Coupling light guides
- G02B6/36—Mechanical coupling means
- G02B6/38—Mechanical coupling means having fibre to fibre mating means
- G02B6/3807—Dismountable connectors, i.e. comprising plugs
- G02B6/3833—Details of mounting fibres in ferrules; Assembly methods; Manufacture
- G02B6/3865—Details of mounting fibres in ferrules; Assembly methods; Manufacture fabricated by using moulding techniques
Definitions
- a photoelectric conversion module for optically coupling an optical transmission channel and a light-emitting element and/or a light-receiving element.
- This photoelectric conversion module has a photoelectric conversion element package and a holder composed of an optically transparent resin material and used to accommodate the photoelectric conversion element package, wherein the holder is provided with a lens and an attachment hole for fitting a ferrule.
- the ferrule in which an optical fiber is inserted and fixed, is inserted into the attachment hole.
- An object of the present invention is to provide an optical connector module which has a minimal loss of light and to which an optical fiber is attached directly without the use of a ferrule.
- an optical connector module includes a transparent positioning device and an optical fiber.
- the transparent positioning device includes a lens, a concave insertion portion, and a debris receiving portion.
- the lens is provided at a first surface of the transparent positioning device.
- the concave insertion portion extending from a second surface, which is located at an opposite side of the transparent positioning device relative to the first surface, to a bottom surface that is located within the transparent positioning device adjacent to a surface of the lens.
- the debris receiving portion extends from the bottom surface in a radial direction of the optical fiber and has a surface continuous with the bottom surface such that the debris receiving portion provides debris receiving space in the area surrounding the bottom surface of the concave insertion portion.
- the optical fiber is inserted into the concave insertion portion and it contacts the bottom surface of the debris receiving portion.
- the term “debris receiving portion having a surface continuous with the bottom surface” refers to the fact that the bottom surface and a surface constituting the debris receiving portion are in contact with each other without an interposed sidewall of the insertion hole.
- the positioning device is provided with a debris receiving portion that is formed continuously with the bottom surface of the concave insertion portion, scraping debris can escape into the debris receiving portion if the optical fiber scrapes the positioning device during insertion. Furthermore, air bubbles can escape into the debris receiving portion even if they are present in an adhesive when the adhesive is applied to the distal surface of the optical fiber and the optical fiber is inserted into the concave insertion portion. For this reason, scraping debris and/or air bubbles in the adhesive will not be interposed between the distal surface of the optical fiber and the lens, and an optical connector module in which the loss of light is minimal can therefore be provided.
- FIG. 1 is a front view of the optical connector module according to an embodiment of the present invention.
- FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the optical connector module along line II-II in FIG. 1 .
- FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of the optical connector module according to a reference example.
- FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of an optical connector module 101 according to a reference example.
- the reference example includes a glass optical fiber 102 and a positioning device 103 .
- the positioning device 103 includes an insertion hole 104 .
- the glass optical fiber 102 is made of a first material and the positioning device 103 is made of a second material (a transparent resin) where the first material is harder than the second material.
- the distal surface 102 c of the optical fiber 102 can scrape an inner wall 104 b of the insertion hole 104 of the positioning device 103 and can generate scraping debris A when the optical fiber 102 is inserted into the insertion hole 104 provided to the positioning device 103 . It is likely that light will be lost if the optical fiber 102 is fixed within the insertion hole 104 while the scraping debris A is interposed between the distal surface 102 c of the optical fiber 102 and the lens 105 , as indicated in FIG. 3 .
- the optical fiber 102 is inserted into the insertion hole 104 with adhesive applied to the distal surface 102 c of the optical fiber 102 in order to fix the optical fiber 102 into the positioning device 103 .
- adhesive applied to the distal surface 102 c of the optical fiber 102 in order to fix the optical fiber 102 into the positioning device 103 .
- air bubbles may be present in the adhesive, or air bubbles may form in the adhesive during the insertion of the optical fiber 102 into the insertion hole 104 . More light is lost during light transmission between the optical fiber 102 and the positioning device 103 if the optical fiber 102 is fixed into the positioning device 103 while air bubbles remain interposed between the distal surface 102 c of the optical fiber 102 and the lens 105 .
- FIG. 1 is a front view of an optical connector module 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention
- FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the optical connector module 1 taken along line II-II in FIG. 1 .
- the optical connector module 1 includes an optical fiber 2 and a positioning device 3 into which the optical fiber 2 is directly inserted and fixed, as explained below.
- the optical fiber 2 has a core and an outer cladding that has a refraction index lower than that of the core.
- the optical fiber 2 can be any one of an AGF (All Glass Fiber) where both the core and the cladding are formed from glass, a HPCF (Hard Plastic Clad Fiber) where the core is formed from glass and the cladding is formed from hard plastic, or a POF (Plastic Optical Fiber) where both the core and the cladding are formed from plastic.
- the positioning device 3 is a substantially rectangular parallelepipedal member formed from polyetherimide or another transparent resin, and has an insertion hole (concave insertion portion) 4 into which the optical fiber 2 is inserted, a lens 5 , a concave fitting portion 6 and a debris receiving portion 7 .
- the positioning device 3 has a front surface 10 , a rear surface 12 , a top surface 14 , a bottom surface 16 , and side surfaces 18 .
- the surfaces 10 , 12 , 14 and 16 are indicated in FIG. 2 , while the side surfaces 18 are only indicated in FIG. 1 .
- the positioning device 3 is provided with two concave fitting portions 6 on the front surface 10 .
- the concave fitting portions 6 are dimensioned to mate with convex fitting portions (not shown) on a corresponding mating device (not shown). By fitting the concave fitting portions 6 onto convex fitting portions provided on the mating device (not shown), the optical connector module 1 easily connects to other devices in a state in which the lens 5 faces a photoelectric conversion element or a lens or other optical part mounted on the mating device.
- the insertion hole 4 is a cylindrical space that extends in a longitudinal direction (the left-to-right direction in FIG. 2 ) of the positioning device 3 from the opening 4 a formed in the rear surface 12 of the positioning device 3 to a surface 4 c provided proximate the lens 5 .
- the insertion hole 4 extends in a direction parallel to the top surface 14 of the transparent positioning device 3 .
- the diameter D of the insertion hole 4 is set so as to be the same or slightly greater than the diameter of the optical fiber 2 .
- the optical fiber 2 is inserted into the insertion hole 4 until the distal surface 2 c comes into contact with the surface 4 c with a light-permeable adhesive is applied to the distal surface 2 c . Consequently, the optical fiber 2 is fixed in position within the positioning device 3 .
- the lens 5 is a convex lens molded integrally with the positioning device 3 such that the lens 5 projects outward slightly from the front surface 10 of the positioning device 3 .
- the lens 5 is unitarily formed with the positioning device 3 such that the lens 5 and the positioning device 3 together define a single monolithic element.
- the lens 5 is provided to the front surface 10 of the positioning device 3 opposite the rear surface 12 where the opening 4 a is formed. Further, since the positioning device 3 is made of a transparent material, the lens 5 is positioned facing the distal surface 2 c of the optical fiber 2 and in alignment with the insertion hole 4 .
- the lens 5 causes the light transmitted by the optical fiber 2 to converge and to be efficiently transmitted to a corresponding lens or other optical element, or to a light-receiving element or other photoelectric conversion element in the above mentioned mating device (not shown) connected so as to face the lens 5 .
- the positioning device 3 further includes the debris receiving portion 7 that extends from the top surface 14 to a point below the end of the insertion hole 4 and a side of the lens 5 adjacent to the optical fiber 2 .
- the debris receiving portion 7 extends in a direction perpendicular to the top surface 14 .
- the debris receiving portion 7 is a space capable of accommodating any scraping debris A generated by moving or scraping contact between the distal surface 2 c of the optical fiber 2 and the sidewall 4 b of the insertion hole 4 at the time the optical fiber 2 is inserted into the insertion hole 4 .
- the debris receiving portion 7 is a debris receiving portion.
- the side surface 7 a of the debris receiving portion 7 on the side of the lens is formed so as to be continuous with the bottom surface 4 c of the insertion hole 4 .
- the bottom surface 4 c of the insertion hole 4 and a portion of the side surface 7 a of the debris receiving portion 7 coincide with one another.
- the debris receiving portion 7 provides a space that surrounds the bottom surface 4 c .
- the length L 1 over which the debris receiving portion 7 extends in the radial direction around the optical fiber 2 is preferably at least 1 mm at the shortest location, and the thickness L 2 (in the left-to-right direction in FIG. 2 ) of the debris receiving portion 7 is preferably about 1 mm.
- an overall width L 3 ( FIG. 1 ) of the debris receiving portion 7 is greater than the diameter D of the insertion hole 4 and the optical fiber 2 .
- the shape of the debris receiving portion 7 is not particularly limited so long as the side surface 7 a on the side of the lens is continuous with the bottom surface 4 c of the insertion hole 4 .
- the bottom surface 7 b may be a flat surface or a curved surface.
- the debris receiving portion 7 may also be a through-hole that is open from either one of the side surfaces 18 or the bottom surface 16 (any surface on which no lens 5 or opening 4 a is formed) of the positioning device 3 through to another side surface, rather than a hole with a closed bottom.
- the debris receiving portion 7 When the debris receiving portion 7 is formed as a hole with a bottom that is open on the top surface 14 of the positioning device 3 , as with the optical connector module 1 , the debris receiving portion 7 can be formed integrally during the ejection molding of the positioning device 3 .
- the debris receiving portion 7 can also be formed by cutting with a drill or other tool.
- the optical fiber 2 is inserted into the insertion hole 4 through the opening 4 a until the distal surface 2 c of the optical fiber 2 comes into contact with the bottom surface 4 c of the insertion hole 4 .
- the optical fiber is AGF
- the hardness of the optical fiber 2 is greater than the hardness of the positioning device 3 made of resin. Therefore, the distal surface 2 c of the optical fiber 2 scrapes the sidewall 4 b of the insertion hole 4 provided to the positioning device 3 , and generates scraping debris A.
- the scraping debris A moves towards the bottom surface 4 c while pushed by the distal surface 2 c of the optical fiber 2 , and is accommodated in the debris receiving portion 7 provided on the side of the insertion hole 4 facing the lens 5 . Therefore, because the scraping debris A does not remain between the distal surface 2 c of the optical fiber 2 and the lens 5 , an optical connector device with a minimal loss of light can be provided.
- the scraping debris A is interposed between the distal surface 2 c of the optical fiber 2 and the lens 5 in a structure in which the debris receiving portion 7 and the bottom surface 4 c are at a distance from each other and the resulting space is connected by the sidewall 4 b of the insertion hole 4 .
- the side surface 7 a of the debris receiving portion 7 on the side of the lens and the bottom surface 4 c of the insertion hole 4 are aligned with each other, allowing the scraping debris A generated from the sidewall 4 b near the bottom surface 4 c to be accommodated in the debris receiving portion 7 , and preventing the scraping debris A from being interposed between the distal surface 2 c of the optical fiber 2 and the lens 5 .
- the machining debris A remaining on the sidewall 4 b if the insertion hole 4 was formed by cutting.
- the machining debris A can be accommodated in the debris receiving portion 7 when the machining debris A is pushed and caused to move along the insertion hole 4 all the way to the debris receiving portion 7 by the distal surface 2 c of the optical fiber 2 at the time the optical fiber 2 is inserted.
- the machining debris A does not remain between the distal surface 2 c of the optical fiber 2 and the lens 5 , and an optical connector module 1 in which the loss of light is minimal can therefore be provided.
- Loss of light can therefore be made minimal in the optical connector module 1 of the present embodiment, regardless of whether the optical fiber 2 is AGF, HPCF, or POF.
- the insertion hole 4 has been described as a cylindrical hole in the above embodiment, but the hole may be shaped differently.
- the positioning device 3 may be formed from a base member having a mating surface and a cover member for covering the mating surface of the base member, and the insertion hole 4 may be formed as a cross-sectionally V-shaped gap formed at the mating surface.
Abstract
Description
- 1. Technical Field
- The present invention relates to an optical connector module for coupling an optical signal to a photoelectric conversion element, a lens, and/or other target members.
- 2. Description of the Background Art
- Disclosed in Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 2007-171556 is a photoelectric conversion module for optically coupling an optical transmission channel and a light-emitting element and/or a light-receiving element. This photoelectric conversion module has a photoelectric conversion element package and a holder composed of an optically transparent resin material and used to accommodate the photoelectric conversion element package, wherein the holder is provided with a lens and an attachment hole for fitting a ferrule. The ferrule, in which an optical fiber is inserted and fixed, is inserted into the attachment hole.
- An object of the present invention is to provide an optical connector module which has a minimal loss of light and to which an optical fiber is attached directly without the use of a ferrule.
- In order to accomplish the stated object, an optical connector module includes a transparent positioning device and an optical fiber. The transparent positioning device includes a lens, a concave insertion portion, and a debris receiving portion. The lens is provided at a first surface of the transparent positioning device. The concave insertion portion extending from a second surface, which is located at an opposite side of the transparent positioning device relative to the first surface, to a bottom surface that is located within the transparent positioning device adjacent to a surface of the lens. The debris receiving portion extends from the bottom surface in a radial direction of the optical fiber and has a surface continuous with the bottom surface such that the debris receiving portion provides debris receiving space in the area surrounding the bottom surface of the concave insertion portion. The optical fiber is inserted into the concave insertion portion and it contacts the bottom surface of the debris receiving portion. As used herein, the term “debris receiving portion having a surface continuous with the bottom surface” refers to the fact that the bottom surface and a surface constituting the debris receiving portion are in contact with each other without an interposed sidewall of the insertion hole.
- Because the positioning device is provided with a debris receiving portion that is formed continuously with the bottom surface of the concave insertion portion, scraping debris can escape into the debris receiving portion if the optical fiber scrapes the positioning device during insertion. Furthermore, air bubbles can escape into the debris receiving portion even if they are present in an adhesive when the adhesive is applied to the distal surface of the optical fiber and the optical fiber is inserted into the concave insertion portion. For this reason, scraping debris and/or air bubbles in the adhesive will not be interposed between the distal surface of the optical fiber and the lens, and an optical connector module in which the loss of light is minimal can therefore be provided.
-
FIG. 1 is a front view of the optical connector module according to an embodiment of the present invention. -
FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the optical connector module along line II-II inFIG. 1 . -
FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of the optical connector module according to a reference example. - An embodiment of the present invention is described below with reference to the drawings. The drawings are meant to be descriptive and are not meant to limit the scope of the invention. In the drawings, identical reference symbols show identical parts in order to avoid repeating the description. The dimensions in the drawings are not necessarily to scale.
- The inventors considered directly attaching the optical fiber to the holder (positioning device) and dispensing with the ferrule in the optical module disclosed in Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 2007-171556. However, it has become apparent that the problems described below occur when an optical fiber is merely inserted and fixed into an attaching hole (insertion hole) provided to the positioning device.
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FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of anoptical connector module 101 according to a reference example. The reference example includes a glassoptical fiber 102 and apositioning device 103. Thepositioning device 103 includes aninsertion hole 104. Typically, the glassoptical fiber 102 is made of a first material and thepositioning device 103 is made of a second material (a transparent resin) where the first material is harder than the second material. Because the glassoptical fiber 102 is harder than thepositioning device 103 formed from a transparent resin, thedistal surface 102 c of theoptical fiber 102 can scrape aninner wall 104 b of theinsertion hole 104 of thepositioning device 103 and can generate scraping debris A when theoptical fiber 102 is inserted into theinsertion hole 104 provided to thepositioning device 103. It is likely that light will be lost if theoptical fiber 102 is fixed within theinsertion hole 104 while the scraping debris A is interposed between thedistal surface 102 c of theoptical fiber 102 and thelens 105, as indicated inFIG. 3 . - Furthermore, the
optical fiber 102 is inserted into theinsertion hole 104 with adhesive applied to thedistal surface 102 c of theoptical fiber 102 in order to fix theoptical fiber 102 into thepositioning device 103. However, air bubbles may be present in the adhesive, or air bubbles may form in the adhesive during the insertion of theoptical fiber 102 into theinsertion hole 104. More light is lost during light transmission between theoptical fiber 102 and thepositioning device 103 if theoptical fiber 102 is fixed into thepositioning device 103 while air bubbles remain interposed between thedistal surface 102 c of theoptical fiber 102 and thelens 105. -
FIG. 1 is a front view of anoptical connector module 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention, andFIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of theoptical connector module 1 taken along line II-II inFIG. 1 . Theoptical connector module 1 includes anoptical fiber 2 and apositioning device 3 into which theoptical fiber 2 is directly inserted and fixed, as explained below. - The
optical fiber 2 has a core and an outer cladding that has a refraction index lower than that of the core. Theoptical fiber 2 can be any one of an AGF (All Glass Fiber) where both the core and the cladding are formed from glass, a HPCF (Hard Plastic Clad Fiber) where the core is formed from glass and the cladding is formed from hard plastic, or a POF (Plastic Optical Fiber) where both the core and the cladding are formed from plastic. - The
positioning device 3 is a substantially rectangular parallelepipedal member formed from polyetherimide or another transparent resin, and has an insertion hole (concave insertion portion) 4 into which theoptical fiber 2 is inserted, alens 5, aconcave fitting portion 6 and adebris receiving portion 7. Thepositioning device 3 has afront surface 10, arear surface 12, atop surface 14, abottom surface 16, andside surfaces 18. Thesurfaces FIG. 2 , while theside surfaces 18 are only indicated inFIG. 1 . Thepositioning device 3 is provided with two concavefitting portions 6 on thefront surface 10. Theconcave fitting portions 6 are dimensioned to mate with convex fitting portions (not shown) on a corresponding mating device (not shown). By fitting the concavefitting portions 6 onto convex fitting portions provided on the mating device (not shown), theoptical connector module 1 easily connects to other devices in a state in which thelens 5 faces a photoelectric conversion element or a lens or other optical part mounted on the mating device. - The
insertion hole 4 is a cylindrical space that extends in a longitudinal direction (the left-to-right direction inFIG. 2 ) of thepositioning device 3 from theopening 4 a formed in therear surface 12 of thepositioning device 3 to asurface 4 c provided proximate thelens 5. Theinsertion hole 4 extends in a direction parallel to thetop surface 14 of thetransparent positioning device 3. The diameter D of theinsertion hole 4 is set so as to be the same or slightly greater than the diameter of theoptical fiber 2. Theoptical fiber 2 is inserted into theinsertion hole 4 until thedistal surface 2 c comes into contact with thesurface 4 c with a light-permeable adhesive is applied to thedistal surface 2 c. Consequently, theoptical fiber 2 is fixed in position within thepositioning device 3. - The
lens 5 is a convex lens molded integrally with thepositioning device 3 such that thelens 5 projects outward slightly from thefront surface 10 of thepositioning device 3. In other words, thelens 5 is unitarily formed with thepositioning device 3 such that thelens 5 and thepositioning device 3 together define a single monolithic element. Thelens 5 is provided to thefront surface 10 of thepositioning device 3 opposite therear surface 12 where theopening 4 a is formed. Further, since thepositioning device 3 is made of a transparent material, thelens 5 is positioned facing thedistal surface 2 c of theoptical fiber 2 and in alignment with theinsertion hole 4. Thelens 5 causes the light transmitted by theoptical fiber 2 to converge and to be efficiently transmitted to a corresponding lens or other optical element, or to a light-receiving element or other photoelectric conversion element in the above mentioned mating device (not shown) connected so as to face thelens 5. - The
positioning device 3 further includes thedebris receiving portion 7 that extends from thetop surface 14 to a point below the end of theinsertion hole 4 and a side of thelens 5 adjacent to theoptical fiber 2. Thedebris receiving portion 7 extends in a direction perpendicular to thetop surface 14. Thedebris receiving portion 7 is a space capable of accommodating any scraping debris A generated by moving or scraping contact between thedistal surface 2 c of theoptical fiber 2 and thesidewall 4 b of theinsertion hole 4 at the time theoptical fiber 2 is inserted into theinsertion hole 4. Hence, thedebris receiving portion 7 is a debris receiving portion. In order to ensure that the scraping debris A that is generated from thesidewall 4 b near thebottom surface 4 c is accommodated in thedebris receiving portion 7, theside surface 7 a of thedebris receiving portion 7 on the side of the lens is formed so as to be continuous with thebottom surface 4 c of theinsertion hole 4. In other words, thebottom surface 4 c of theinsertion hole 4 and a portion of theside surface 7 a of thedebris receiving portion 7 coincide with one another. - As indicated in
FIG. 2 , in order to secure space for storing the scraping debris A, thedebris receiving portion 7 provides a space that surrounds thebottom surface 4 c. Further, the length L1 over which thedebris receiving portion 7 extends in the radial direction around theoptical fiber 2 is preferably at least 1 mm at the shortest location, and the thickness L2 (in the left-to-right direction inFIG. 2 ) of thedebris receiving portion 7 is preferably about 1 mm. Further, an overall width L3 (FIG. 1 ) of thedebris receiving portion 7 is greater than the diameter D of theinsertion hole 4 and theoptical fiber 2. The shape of thedebris receiving portion 7 is not particularly limited so long as theside surface 7 a on the side of the lens is continuous with thebottom surface 4 c of theinsertion hole 4. When thedebris receiving portion 7 is formed as a hole with a bottom, thebottom surface 7 b may be a flat surface or a curved surface. Thedebris receiving portion 7 may also be a through-hole that is open from either one of the side surfaces 18 or the bottom surface 16 (any surface on which nolens 5 oropening 4 a is formed) of thepositioning device 3 through to another side surface, rather than a hole with a closed bottom. - When the
debris receiving portion 7 is formed as a hole with a bottom that is open on thetop surface 14 of thepositioning device 3, as with theoptical connector module 1, thedebris receiving portion 7 can be formed integrally during the ejection molding of thepositioning device 3. Thedebris receiving portion 7 can also be formed by cutting with a drill or other tool. - When the
optical connector module 1 is produced, theoptical fiber 2 is inserted into theinsertion hole 4 through theopening 4 a until thedistal surface 2 c of theoptical fiber 2 comes into contact with thebottom surface 4 c of theinsertion hole 4. When the optical fiber is AGF, the hardness of theoptical fiber 2 is greater than the hardness of thepositioning device 3 made of resin. Therefore, thedistal surface 2 c of theoptical fiber 2 scrapes thesidewall 4 b of theinsertion hole 4 provided to thepositioning device 3, and generates scraping debris A. However, the scraping debris A moves towards thebottom surface 4 c while pushed by thedistal surface 2 c of theoptical fiber 2, and is accommodated in thedebris receiving portion 7 provided on the side of theinsertion hole 4 facing thelens 5. Therefore, because the scraping debris A does not remain between thedistal surface 2 c of theoptical fiber 2 and thelens 5, an optical connector device with a minimal loss of light can be provided. - The scraping debris A is interposed between the
distal surface 2 c of theoptical fiber 2 and thelens 5 in a structure in which thedebris receiving portion 7 and thebottom surface 4 c are at a distance from each other and the resulting space is connected by thesidewall 4 b of theinsertion hole 4. With theoptical connector module 1, however, theside surface 7 a of thedebris receiving portion 7 on the side of the lens and thebottom surface 4 c of theinsertion hole 4 are aligned with each other, allowing the scraping debris A generated from thesidewall 4 b near thebottom surface 4 c to be accommodated in thedebris receiving portion 7, and preventing the scraping debris A from being interposed between thedistal surface 2 c of theoptical fiber 2 and thelens 5. - As described below, a problem arises regardless of the relation between the hardness of the
optical fiber 2 and the hardness of thepositioning device 3. For example, there are risks of the machining debris A remaining on thesidewall 4 b if theinsertion hole 4 was formed by cutting. Even in this case, however, the machining debris A can be accommodated in thedebris receiving portion 7 when the machining debris A is pushed and caused to move along theinsertion hole 4 all the way to thedebris receiving portion 7 by thedistal surface 2 c of theoptical fiber 2 at the time theoptical fiber 2 is inserted. For this reason, the machining debris A does not remain between thedistal surface 2 c of theoptical fiber 2 and thelens 5, and anoptical connector module 1 in which the loss of light is minimal can therefore be provided. - Similarly, when adhesive is applied on the
distal surface 2 c of theoptical fiber 2, and theoptical fiber 2 is inserted into theinsertion hole 4 and fixed in thepositioning device 3, there are risks that air bubbles will be present in the adhesive or enter the adhesive during the insertion of theoptical fiber 2. However, according to theoptical connector module 1, the adhesive that contains air bubbles can be allowed to escape into thedebris receiving portion 7 by pressing theoptical fiber 2 against thebottom surface 4 c. For this reason, a situation can be created in which no air bubbles remain between the distal surface of theoptical fiber 2 and thelens 5, and anoptical connector module 1 in which the loss of light is minimal can therefore be provided. - Loss of light can therefore be made minimal in the
optical connector module 1 of the present embodiment, regardless of whether theoptical fiber 2 is AGF, HPCF, or POF. - The
insertion hole 4 has been described as a cylindrical hole in the above embodiment, but the hole may be shaped differently. For example, thepositioning device 3 may be formed from a base member having a mating surface and a cover member for covering the mating surface of the base member, and theinsertion hole 4 may be formed as a cross-sectionally V-shaped gap formed at the mating surface.
Claims (10)
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
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JP2010101922A JP2011232496A (en) | 2010-04-27 | 2010-04-27 | Optical connector module |
JP2010-101922 | 2010-04-27 |
Publications (2)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
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US20110262083A1 true US20110262083A1 (en) | 2011-10-27 |
US8491197B2 US8491197B2 (en) | 2013-07-23 |
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Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
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US13/087,837 Active 2031-11-29 US8491197B2 (en) | 2010-04-27 | 2011-04-15 | Optical connector module |
Country Status (5)
Country | Link |
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US (1) | US8491197B2 (en) |
JP (1) | JP2011232496A (en) |
KR (1) | KR20110119576A (en) |
CN (1) | CN102236137B (en) |
TW (1) | TW201144885A (en) |
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US9335493B2 (en) | 2013-02-28 | 2016-05-10 | Corning Cable Systems Llc | Liquid displacing optical coupling assemblies |
WO2018138490A1 (en) * | 2017-01-27 | 2018-08-02 | Renishaw Plc | Direct laser writing and chemical etching and optical devices |
WO2022053434A1 (en) * | 2020-09-11 | 2022-03-17 | Optoscribe Limited | Optical apparatus and method |
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US9335493B2 (en) | 2013-02-28 | 2016-05-10 | Corning Cable Systems Llc | Liquid displacing optical coupling assemblies |
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Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
CN102236137A (en) | 2011-11-09 |
TW201144885A (en) | 2011-12-16 |
US8491197B2 (en) | 2013-07-23 |
JP2011232496A (en) | 2011-11-17 |
KR20110119576A (en) | 2011-11-02 |
CN102236137B (en) | 2015-04-01 |
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